Blizzard has announced Joe Shely as the new game director on Diablo 4, following the departure of previous director Luis Barriga amid ongoing legal action by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, and a "frat boy" work culture at the studio.
Shely is a long-time Blizzard employee who has previously served as a game designer on a variety titles at the studio – including Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls, World of Warcraft expansions The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, plus the canned Project Trinity – and has been a design lead on Diablo 4 since "the beginning".